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University students gain real-world experience interning in state government

For more than 100 University of Missouri students, the Missouri State Capitol is one of their classrooms this semester as they intern in legislative and government offices in Jefferson City. Many of the students enroll through the Civic Leaders Internship Program at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where they can work with a faculty advisor for academic credit and take additional coursework related to their experiences. This year’s intern class also includes several MU law students who are focusing on the legal aspects of legislation. “This is a great experience for the students from all angles,” said Julia Parcell, who coordinates the Civic Leaders program at MU and keeps up with all 85 of her interns throughout the capital. “It is an opportunity for them to learn not only about what is going on in the state, but also how to become better informed and more civically engaged. We have students from many different majors here in the legislature, and they bring interesting perspectives to the offices. They are able to apply what they learn here to their educational experiences regardless of their major.”

University Update

President Floyd, chancellors visit legislators at Capitol

University of Missouri President Elson S. Floyd, MU Chancellor Brady Deaton, UMKC Chancellor Guy Bailey, UMR Chancellor John F. Carney III, and UMSL Chancellor Tom George all visited the Missouri State Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 31 to visit legislative leaders in both the House and Senate. The president and chancellors discussed the University’s priorities for the upcoming session.

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Did You Know?

Did You Know: Legislative Day is March 15th

Join the University of Missouri Alliance of Alumni Associations and Extension on Wednesday, March 15, 2006, for the 32nd annual Legislative Day at the State Capitol. Events include a rally, legislator visits and a display showcase featuring each campus and Extension. To register or see more information, please visit this link.

Legislator Profile

Rep. John Burnett (D-Kansas City), who received a bachelor’s degree and a juris doctor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, recalls the University Center and time he spent on campus as his fondest memories as a student at UMKC. Today, Burnett is in his second term as a state representative and believes much of the state’s focus should be on higher education. “The top priority of the state is education,” Burnett said. “The number one priority in the Capitol is public education, and I don’t think that means just K-12.” [Read more...]

State Relations

During its regular meeting on Jan. 27 in Columbia, the University of Missouri Board of Curators voted 9-0 to approve the following resolution: “The Board of Curators of the University of Missouri appreciates Governor Matt Blunt’s Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative, which would explore creating a public-private partnership that will reap the maximum value from the sale of the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA), and invest the proceeds to the benefit of Missouri higher education.” The initiative would fund capital improvement projects at all campuses of the University of Missouri.

MOHELA board endorses plan to sell select assets

The Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA) board endorsed a plan on Tuesday, Jan. 31, in response to Gov. Matt Blunt’s Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative that would provide $450 million for capital improvement projects, new scholarships and endowed professorships at universities throughout the state. Under the initiative, the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA) would put select assets up for sale, excluding loans it backs for current and future Missouri college students. This would eliminate the need for the special board called for in the governor’s Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative. The Missouri General Assembly and Gov. Blunt would still decide how funds are allocated to colleges and universities. All of the economic benefits outlined in the initiative remain with this public-private partnership proposal.

A bill combining several higher education proposals into an omnibus bill has been put on the fast track for floor consideration by the Senate. The Senate Education Committee approved a Senate Committee Substitute for SB590 on Wednesday, Jan. 31, and the bill has since been reported out of committee and placed on the Senate perfection calendar. The proposal incorporates six bills that had already been heard before the committee in January. [Read more…]

House Higher Education Committee hears Bright Flight legislation

The House Higher Education Committee, chaired by Rep. Gayle Kingery (R-Poplar Bluff), conducted its first meeting Jan. 31 and heard HB1428, which would double the amount of the Bright Flight scholarship. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Ed Robb (R-Columbia), is similar to SB662 and would provide the first increase in the scholarship since 1987 when it was enacted. Those testifying in support of the legislation included Sean Crotty on behalf of the Associated Students of the University of Missouri and Marty Oetting on behalf of the University of Missouri. The lawmakers were urged to include an inflation index in the legislation so that it can keep pace with the costs of education in the future.

Campus Highlights

MU’s College of Engineering receives federal grant for environmental technology office in China

U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof announces the U.S. Department of Commerce grant at MU.

The College of Engineering at the University of Missouri-Columbia will open the first U.S. environmental and energy technology office in China next March. U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-MO) joined University leaders on Friday, Jan. 27, to announce the $287,000 U.S Department of Commerce grant, which will help fund the Beijing office. The office is designed to serve as a neutral academic setting to provide educational resources and training seminars for Chinese professionals interested in learning about advanced environmental technologies. “We will be the only university running the only U.S. environmental technology office in China,” said project director Thomas Clevenger, an MU civil engineering professor. [Read more…]

Gov. Matt Blunt visits MU for incubator announcement

Gov. Matt Blunt discusses funding for the incubator during a press conference at the Bond Life Sciences Center.

Gov. Matt Blunt visited the University of Missouri-Columbia on Thursday, Feb. 2, to announce proposed funding for the Missouri Life Science Incubator. Joining the governor were University of Missouri President Elson S. Floyd, MU Chancellor Brady Deaton, and Teresa Maledy, chair of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and president of Commerce Bank. The incubator, designed to help researchers move their science from the laboratory to the marketplace, would receive $2 million under the governor’s Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative. “Governor Blunt recognizes that the incubator will be an enormous asset to Missouri,” President Floyd said. “It will stimulate Missouri's economy by spawning new firms and strengthening existing ones. It will create good-paying jobs and bolster Missouri’s reputation in the scientific and business communities.”

Rep. Bob May visits UM-Rolla to discuss Discovery Initiative

Rep. Bob May speaks during a news conference at the Havener Center at UMR.

Rep. Bob May (R-Rolla) visited the University of Missouri-Rolla on Friday, Jan. 27 to outline Gov. Matt Blunt’s proposal to restructure the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA). May was joined by campus and community leaders, including UMR Chancellor John F. Carney III. The governor’s Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative includes $7.0 million in proposed funding for UMR’s Toomey Hall, which will replace the existing Mechanical Engineering Building. It will feature state-of-the-art learning centers, laboratories and computer facilities.